Massachusetts business in brief

Tuesday

Feb 24, 2009 at 12:01 AMFeb 24, 2009 at 1:48 AM

Utility workers plan to target the operator of the SEMASS incinerator with a leaflet distribution; Ticketmaster agrees to change its online ticket sales process after butting heads with Bruce Springsteen; for the first time in 2009, the weekly average gas price has dropped; and the N.Y. attorney general’s office moves to force former Merrill Lynch & Co. CEO John Thain to disclose details about bonuses.

Leaflet action targets incinerator operator

BRAINTREE – Members of the Utility Workers Union of America Local 369 were planning to attend the North Shore Business Expo today to distribute leaflets that criticize the operator of the SEMASS incinerator in Rochester.

The local, headquartered in Braintree, has filed a labor complaint against Covanta Energy Corp. with the National Labor Relations Board. The federal agency has authorized a complaint against Covanta, but is trying to reach a settlement with the New Jersey company. Meanwhile, the union and Covanta are in negotiations to reach what would be the union’s first contract for more than 130 workers at the SEMASS incinerator.

Union reps planned to show up at today at the Sheraton Ferncroft hotel in Danvers because Covanta is one of the exhibitors scheduled for the business expo. Among other things, union officials say they’re upset with an employee handbook that appeared to restrict organizing efforts in the workplace and a recent move to not give SEMASS workers bonuses that they had received in previous years. The company says it has since clarified the rules in its handbook.

N.J. takes Ticketmaster to task in sale switch

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Ticketmaster agreed Monday to change its online ticket sales process after butting heads with Bruce Springsteen and his fans.

Ticketmaster reached a settlement with New Jersey, where the Springsteen concert in question had been scheduled, said state Attorney General Anne Milgram.

The changes apply to all Ticketmaster sales nationwide, she said.

Springsteen ticket seekers were redirected from the main Ticketmaster site to a subsidiary that charged more.

Ticketmaster did not admit wrongdoing but agreed to pay the state $350,000, Milgram said.

Gasoline prices drop after 6 weeks of hikes

BOSTON – For the first time in 2009, the weekly average price for gasoline has dropped in Massachusetts.

AAA Southern New England reported Monday that self-serve regular unleaded is averaging $1.85 per gallon in the Bay State, down 3 cents from a week ago.

The decline follows six consecutive weeks of price increases.

The Massachusetts average is 6 cents below the national average price of $1.91.

A year ago at this time, Massachusetts residents were paying an average of $3.05 per gallon for self-serve regular.

N.Y. seeks to compel ex-Merrill details on bonuses from ex-CEO

NEW YORK – The New York attorney general’s office on Monday moved to force former Merrill Lynch & Co. CEO John Thain to disclose details about bonuses paid to Merrill employees before the company was sold to Bank of America Corp.

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo filed a motion in New York State Supreme Court that would force Thain to provide details he refused to give during a deposition Thursday. Thain said he refused because was told by Bank of America not to divulge details about them.

A spokesman for Thain said the former Merrill CEO is cooperating with Cuomo’s office and would answer questions about individual bonuses if compelled by the court.